Product Description

General information

Alphagan eye drops contain the active ingredient brimonidine, which is a type of medicine called an alpha agonist. It works by stimulating alpha receptors found on blood vessels in the eye. Brimonidine eye drops are used to treat glaucoma in people who cannot use beta-blocker eye drops. They may also be used in conjunction with other types of eye drop, for example beta-blockers or prostglandin analogues, to treat glaucoma in people whose eye pressure has not been lowered sufficiently with one medicine. Eye drops are used to produce a local effect in the eye, with minimal effect on other parts of the body.

Directions

Wash your hands before using the eye drops. To apply the Alphagan eye drops you have to tilt your head back slightly and pull down your lower eyelid to create a small pocket. Hold the dropper above the eye with the tip down. Look up and away from the dropper and squeeze out a drop. Close your eyes for 2 or 3 minutes with your head tipped down, without blinking or squinting. Gently press your finger to the inside corner of the eye for about 1 minute, to keep the liquid from draining into your tear duct. Use only the number of drops your doctor has prescribed. If you use more than one drop, wait about 5 minutes between drops. Wait at least 5 minutes before using any other eye drops your doctor has prescribed. Do not touch the tip of the eye dropper or place it directly on your eye. A contaminated dropper can infect your eye, which could lead to serious vision problems. Do not use the Alphagan eye drops if the liquid has changed colors or has particles in it.

Precautions

This medicine is not to be taken by mouth. When using these eye drops you should take care to not touch the dropper tip to any surface or to your eye in order to avoid contaminating the eye drops. Alphagan eye drops contain the preservative benzalkonium chloride, which can be absorbed by soft contact lenses and cause eye irritation. If you wear soft contact lenses, you should remove them before putting in these eye drops. You should wait at least 15 minutes after using the drops before putting your contact lenses back in. This medicine may cause blurred or abnormal vision, which could affect your ability to drive or operate machinary, especially at night or in reduced lighting. You should also take into account that this medicine can sometimes drowsiness or fatigue, which may also affect your ability to drive or operate machinary.

Contraindications

You should not use Alphagan if you are allergic to brimonidine. We strongly recommend you to contact a doctor if you have congestive heart failure, history of stroke or blood clot, coronary artery disease, Raynaud's syndrome, depression, low blood pressure, a history of glaucoma or increased pressure inside your eye. Alphagan should not be given to a child younger than 2 years old.

Possible side effect

The most commong side affects are dry mouth, mild itching, redness, or irritation of your eyes, hives, blurred vision, difficult breathing, drowsiness and tired feeling, swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat. You have to contact doctor at once if you have eye pain or increased watering, severe swelling, redness, burning or discomfort in or around your eye.

Drug interactions

Ask your doctor before using Alphagan with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures. Tell your doctor about all medicines you use and those you start or stop using during your treatment with Alphagan, especially it concerns digoxin, digitalis, an antidepressant--amitriptyline, bupropion, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, duloxetine, fluoxetine, imipramine, nortriptyline, paroxetine, an MAO inhibitor.

Missed dose

In case you have missed to take the prescribed dose of this drug, take it as soon as possible. If you are already supposed to take your next dose, do not take the dose you forgot and keep your ordinary dosage schedule. Avoid compensating a missed dose by taking an extra one.

Overdose

Very limited information exists on accidental ingestion of brimonidine in adults. The only adverse reaction reported to date has been hypotension. Symptoms of brimonidine overdose have been reported in neonates, infants and children receiving Alphagan as part of medical treatment of congenital glaucoma or by accidental oral ingestion. Treatment of an oral overdose includes supportive and symptomatic therapy; a patent airway should be maintaine.

Storage

Store Alphagan at 15-30°C (59-86°F). Protect from light.

Note

The information presented at the site has a general character. Note please this information cannot be used for self-treatment and self diagnosis. You should consult with your doctor or health care adviser regarding any specific instructions of your condition. The information is reliable, but we concede it could contain mistakes. We are not responsible for any direct, indirect, special or other damage caused by use of this information on the site and also for consequences of self-treatment.